SAD President Sukhbir Badal Challenges AAP Government at Muktsar Rally

SAD President Sukhbir Badal Challenges AAP Government at Muktsar Rally

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal launched a strong attack against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government during the Maghi Mela conference in Muktsar on Wednesday. He directly challenged AAP leaders to register cases against him while accusing them of interfering in religious matters.

Political Confidence and Direct Challenges

Buoyed by his party's recent performance in the Tarn Taran byelection and December panchayat polls, Badal adopted an aggressive stance. "I do not fear political cases and would keep fighting for the causes of Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiyat," declared the SAD president. He specifically dared the AAP government to file cases against him, showing no hesitation in confronting the ruling administration.

Badal urged party workers to rally behind SAD for the 2027 assembly elections. He emphasized the need to elect a pro-people government and move away from what he called "the experiment they made in 2022 by handing over power to a party controlled from Delhi."

Multiple Governance Issues Raised

The SAD president highlighted several critical concerns during his address:

• Rising Gangsterism: Badal pointed to increasing gangster activity in Punjab, stating that people feel unsafe under the AAP government due to numerous extortion calls. He contrasted this with what he described as peaceful conditions during previous SAD administrations.
• Water Management Promises: On the emotive issue of water, Badal made specific commitments. He promised that if SAD returns to power, the party would stop water flowing from Punjab to Rajasthan through the Rajasthan feeder canal. Additionally, he pledged to lay pipelines for supplying water to tail-end villages and release tubewell connections.
• Employment Protection: Badal announced that government jobs would be reserved for Punjabis under SAD rule. This move aims to reverse what he called the AAP government's trend of filling positions with candidates from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana.
• Youth Support: The SAD president also promised interest-free loans of Rs 10 lakh for youth, repayable over seven years.

Religious Concerns and Historical Parallels

Badal raised serious concerns about religious interference, drawing historical parallels. He stated that "the Congress had earlier tried to interfere in the religious matters of Sikhs and the SGPC but failed." According to Badal, the Aam Aadmi Party is now following the same unsuccessful path.

The SAD president also mentioned regular incidents of sacrilege occurring under the current government. He emphasized that such interference would not succeed, just as previous attempts had failed.

Unified Party Support

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami joined Badal at the conference, along with numerous party leaders including former ministers. Together, they launched coordinated attacks against both the AAP and Congress parties. This show of unity demonstrated SAD's organized opposition to the current administration.

The Muktsar gathering served as a platform for SAD to articulate its alternative vision for Punjab while directly challenging the ruling party on multiple fronts. Badal's confident tone reflected his party's renewed political momentum following recent electoral performances.